Carpenter, GeorgeLord

, baron of Killaghy in the
kingdom of Ireland, descended from an ancient and good
family in Herefordshire, was born at Pitchers Ocul in that
county, February 10, 1657. His father was Mr. Warncomb
Carpenter, sixth son of Thomas Carpenter, esq, of the
Homme or Holme, in the parish of Dilwyn in Herefordshire. His mother was daughter to Mr. Taylor of the same
county, and widow to Mr. John Hill, by whom she had
one son. George lord Carpenter was the youngest of seven
children, whom his father left at his death, and was educated at a private school in the country. In 1672 he went
into the third troop of guards as a private gentleman, and
was afterwards appointed quarter-master to the regiment
of horse commanded by the earl of Peterborough, and went
through the several posts of cornet, lieutenant, captain,
&c. till he was advanced to that of lieutenant-colonel of
the regiment, in which commission he continued thirteen
years, though the regiment was almost coastantly in service. In 1693 he married Alice, daughter of William lord
viscount Charlemont, who having a considerable jointure
from her first husband James Margetson, esq. by the sale
of part of it for her life he was enabled to purchase the
regiment of dragoons which he commanded till his death.
He served in all the first wars in Ireland and Flanders, and
| the last in Spain, with unblemished honour and reputation,
and distinguished himself to great advantage by his courage, conduct, and humanity. At the unfortunate battle
of Almanza in Spain he commanded the rear, and brought
up the last squadron in the retreat, which saved the baggage of the army. At the battle of Almenara he was
wounded, but received the compliments of Charles then
king of Spain, and afterwards emperor of Germany, for
his conduct in the engagement. He was again desperately
wounded in defending the breach at Britmega against the
whole French and Spanish army, where they "were at last
taken prisoners. In 1705 he was made a brigadier-general;
in 1708 major-general; and in 1710 lieutenant-general. In
1714 he was chosen member of parliament for Whitchurch
in Hampshire; and the year following was appointed envoy extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the emperor,
whose personal regard and esteem he had gained while he
served under that prince in Spain. But the rebellion
breaking out that year, he was sent into the North, where
he not only prevented the rebels from seizing Newcastle,
and marching into Yorkshire, but having overtaken them
at Preston, where they were invested by major-general
Wills, he, by altering the disposition which that general
had made, cut off entirely both their escape and their receiving any supplies, which immediately reduced them to
a capitulation. In the beginning of February 1715-16 he
sent a challenge to general Wills, but they were prevented
from fighting by the interposition of the dukes of Marlborough and Montague. In 1716 he was appointed governor
of 'Minorca, and commander in chief of his majesty’s forces
in Scotland; and in 1719 was created baron Carpenter of
Killaghy in the kingdom of Ireland. In 1722 he was chosen member of parliament for the city of Westminster, and
upon all occasions voted for what he thought to be the
real good of his country, without any regard to party. In
October 1731 being near seventy-four years of age, he
began to labour under the failure of appetite, and having
had a fall, by which his teeth were loosened on that side
which had not been wounded, he was capable of taking
but little nourishment, which together with old age, and a
decay of nature, put an end to his life February 10, 1731-2.
He was interred near his beloved wife in the chancel of the
parish church of Owselbury in Hampshire, where a
|
monument of marble was erected to his memory by his son, the
late lord Carpenter, who was the only issue he left.

General Guest used to flatter lord Carpenter on account
of his conduct at the battle of Almanza, and to put him in
mind particularly of his horse Crop, which he rode in that
battle, and his lordship was not a little pleased with being
reminded of a circumstance that brought fully to his recollection an event which he regarded as one of the most
glorious actions of his life. It has been said, that lord
Carpenter’s chief merit consisted in his skill as a quartermaster-general, and in his industry in providing for the
subsistence of the troops.

Mr. Jonathan Richardson, jun. as an instance that the
poor never fairly forgive the rich their conveniencies and
superiority, but seize every opportunity of exerting their
own pride, and little temporary boast of power, relates
that lord Carpenter, at a Westminster election, where the
event of the contest was very doubtful, could not prevail
on four sturdy butchers to poll as he would have them, but
by letting them ride in his coach, whilst he himself walked
at the horses’ heads and led them. 1

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